Composite molded article and method of making the same

• US 4,249,517 A
• Filed: 02/13/1978
• Issued: 02/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carlton M. Burgess, Lawrence E. Schroeder
• Original Assignee: Carlton M. Burgess, Lawrence E. Schroeder
• Inventors: Schroeder, Lawrence E., Burgess, Carlton M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority,Jr., Carroll B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barrett, Lee E.
• Application Number:
  US05/877,188
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 126/270, 126/271, 126/450, 126/442, 126/446, 126/447, 237/1 A, 428/81, 428/83, 428/38, 428/34, 428/192, 428/310, 428/313, 264/46.4, 264/46.9, 264/271, 264/274, 264/279, 264/275, 52/309.4, 52/823, 52/400, 425/4 R, 156/109
• US Class Current: 126/661
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0044 for sealing off parts of inserts projecting into the mould cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14434 Coating brittle material, e.g. glass B29C45/14377, B29C45/14418 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/763 the edges being disposed in a substantial flat plane
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/778 Windows profiled elements for making window frames B29L2031/005, windscreens B29L2031/3052
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/75 with enlarged surfaces, e.g. with protrusions or corrugations collectors comprising porous material or permeable masses directly contacting the working fluids F24S10/80
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/70 Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems

Abstract

A composite glass and molded frame member. In a specific embodiment, one or more glass panels may be utilized in association with a generally U-shaped elastomeric packing and mold-piece seal strip with thin leg portions engaging the glass. The strip has a collapse or compression zone formed outboard and adjacent the edge portion of the glass to accommodate, inter alia, differing thermal expansions and contractions of the glass and the frame. The glass edge and strip are unitary with a perimeter frame of urethane plastic material which is molded over the glass edge and seal. The mold pieces of the molding apparatus have continuous raised or ridge portions adapted to engage the leg portions of the elastomeric strip on either side of the glass panel to prevent flow of plastic material over the glass surface area encircled by the ridge portions of the mold pieces.

Claims

1. In the class of articles mold-formed of material which exhibits shrinkage following molding or exhibits a linear expansion significantly different from that of glass, a composite article comprising, a glass panel, a packing strip mounted over the edge portion of said glass panel, and a perimeter supporting frame of the above-recited material mold-formed about said packing strip and glass edge portion, said packing strip having a collapsible zone formed of an inner region of greater softness than the remainder of said strip outboard of the terminal edge of said glass panel structured to be susceptible to forces in the plane of said glass panel to enable relative movement between the latter and said frame in such plane without substantial force during post-mold shrinkage of said frame or differential linear expansion thereof relative to said glass panel in use.

2. In the class of articles mold-formed of polymeric material which exhibits shrinkage following molding or exhibits a linear thermal expansion significantly different from that of glass, a composite article comprising, a glass panel, a packing strip of elastomeric material mounted over the edge portion of said glass panel, and a perimeter supporting frame of the above-recited class of material mold-formed about said packing strip and glass edge portion, said packing strip having a zone formed of an inner region of greater softness than the remainder of said strip outboard of the terminal edge of said glass panel readily compressible in volume under relative movement between the glass panel and said frame in the plane of said glass panel without substantial force during post-mold shrinkage of said frame or differential linear expansion thereof relative to said glass panel in use.

3. A composite molded article comprising, a glass panel, an elastomeric packing strip having laterally extending legs, said strip being mounted with its legs embracing the edge portion of said glass panel, and a perimeter frame of polymeric material mold-formed about said strip and glass edge portion, the legs of said strip completely intervening said frame and the glass panel throughout the perimeter of said frame, and said strip having a collapse zone formed of an inner region of greater softness than the remainder of said strip outboard of the terminal edge of said glass panel enabling relative movement between the latter and said frame in the plane of said glass panel without substantial force during post-mold shrinkage of said frame or differential linear expansion thereof relative to said glass panel during use of the article.

4. A composite molded article comprising, a glass panel, a generally U-shaped elastomeric packing strip mounted with its legs embracing the edge portion of said glass panel, and a perimeter frame of polymeric material mold-formed about said packing strip and glass edge portion, the legs of said strip being of a medium-firm durometer elastomer and completely intervening said frame and the glass panel throughout the perimeter of said frame, and said strip having a longitudinal cavity outboard of the terminal edge of said glass panel enabling relative movement between the latter and said frame in the plane of said glass panel without substantial force as during post-mold shrinkage of said frame or differential linear expansion thereof relative to said glass panel during use of the article.

5. A molded solar heat collector including a composite molded member, comprising, a glass panel, an extruded generally U-shaped elastomeric packing strip mounted with its legs embracing the edge portion of said glass panel, a perimeter frame of polyurethane material mold-formed about said packing strip and glass edge portion, the legs of said strip being of a medium to medium-firm durometer elastomer and completely intervening said frame and the glass panel throughout the perimeter of said frame, and said strip having extruded therein a longitudinal cavity outboard of the terminal edge of said glass panel enabling relative movement between the latter and said frame in the plane of said glass panel without substantial force as during post-mold shrinkage of said frame or differential linear expansion thereof relative to said glass panel during use of the collector, said frame including an enclosing wall portion extending generally normal to the plane of said glass panel, a heat collecting panel mounted within said wall portion adjacent to and below said glass panel and including conduit means through which fluid may be made to flow, and thermal insulation means within said wall portion.

6. In the class of articles mold-formed of polymeric material, a composite article comprising, at least two glass panels, a packing strip of elastomeric material mounted over juxtaposed edge portions of said glass panels, said strip having at least a single generally E-type cross section including a middle web interposed between each juxtaposed pair of edge portions of said glass panels and extending inboard a distance from the terminal edge of said edge portions, and a perimeter supporting frame of the above-recited material mold-formed about said packing strip and glass edge portions and extending inboard from the terminal edge of said edge portions a distance not substantially further than said web whereby said glass panels had and have adequate support from said web during molding process and in use.